I admit the title "Simply Amazing Lemon Tea Cookies" might sound like a trite exaggeration, but if you love crisp super lemony cookies, like I do, just one taste of these will assure you that I am telling the truth.
I made these for our monthly Fill the Cookie Jar post. A group of bloggers all make cookies based on a monthly theme and share them in a virtual cookie exchange. Our theme for May is Mother's Day. And this mother loves lemon cookies. And I think my mom does too. Be sure to scroll below the recipe to see what the other FTCJ bakers made.
This recipe is from the Cook's Illustrated Cookbook. I thought about tossing in some basil or rosemary, but I just went with pure lemon flavor this time around. I fell in love with this recipe for its ease as well as flavor. Everything is whipped up in the food processor in a matter of minutes.
J and I tried a few the night we made them, then we quickly packaged up the rest and shared with a few staff members at the school in the morning. All four of them raved about the cookies when I picked him up admitting they couldn't stop at just one cookie because they were so addicting.
You can make them for your Mother for Mother's Day, or for a Tea Party, or just because you love lemon cookies.
Lemon Tea Cookies
Ingredients
COOKIES
- ¾ cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest (2 lemons)
- 1 ¾ cup flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter (cut into ½ inch cubes and chilled)
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
GLAZE
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and lemon zest in a food processor until combined and sugar is slightly damp (about 30 seconds).
- Add flour, salt and baking powder and pulse until combined.
- Add butter on top of flour/sugar mixture and pulse until mixture resembles cornmeal.
- In a small bowl, combine egg yolk, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Add to flour/sugar mixture and pulse until it forms a dough.
- Roll dough into a cylinder 2 inches around. Wrap in waxed paper and chill for 45 minutes in freezer.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Slice dough into ½ inch thick rounds and place on cookie sheets 1 inch apart.
- Bake 12-15 minutes until cookies are just browning around the edges. Move to a cookie sheet and cool.
- Combine glaze ingredients in a medium bowl and whip until smooth. Spread a thin layer of glaze on each cookie and let set until hardened.
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
Marilyn Lesniak
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe at the #RecipeSharingParty! I hope to see you next week. Pinned and Yummed. Please visit #OverTheMoon on Sunday or #ThursdayFavoriteThings for more sharing fun! Don't forget to Comment your link #'s so I can be sure to visit and you get a chance to be featured! Happy Mother’s Day!
Audrey
Thanks, Marilyn. Love your blog and your parties.
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
Great cookies -- perfect match for a cup of tea!
Audrey
Thanks, Jean. They are great with tea or coffee or milk or...
Theresa Mafison
OMG! I am JH aide, I generally don't do sweets, but these lemon cookies are to die for!! I couldn't stop eating them!! Thanks Audrey and my Justin
Audrey
We love you too! The other three people we gave them too said the same thing about them being addicting.
Kelly @RaisingSamuels
These sound amazing! Thanks for sharing! I pinned so I can try to make these sometime soon. Hope you have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Audrey
Thanks for coming by, Kelly.
Saundra @ FamishedFish
I love lemon cookies! Definitely pinning!
Audrey
They are a winner, Saundra.
Joanne/WineLady Cooks
This is a terrific recipe. We love lemon so I'll definitely have to make these this spring. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Audrey
Thanks, Jo. Hope things have settled down for you a little and you can join us next month.
Edye
These look AMAZING! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Blessings,
Edye // Gracefulcoffee
Audrey
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Danita Carr
Oh yum! These look delicious and fun! Pinning for later! Thanks for sharing! #SmallVictories
Audrey
Thanks for the comment and the sharing, Danita.
Sarah
These look divine! I'm a sucker for an iced lemon cookie and there are sometimes where basic is best. Thank you so much for linking up at the Thank Goodness It's Thursday link party.
I cannot wait to see what tasty treats you link up tomorrow, Audrey!
Audrey
Thanks, Sarah.
Crystal@WhatTreasuresAwait
These would be so perfect for a tea party with my little girls! Thanks for sharing at Welcome Home Wednesdays!
Audrey
Tea parties are so much fun.